1977 Monte Bello Zinfandel

The second year of the drought brought the production of both the Picchetti and Jimsomare vineyards to less than three-quarters of a ton per acre. Their ripeness and character were quite similar so we combined them at picking to make nine and a half barrels of this elegant wine with its distinctive fruit and firm acidity. Though it will begin to open up within six months, it should improve considerably with three or four years of bottle age. PD (3/79)

Ridge wine is made with an emphasis on quality and naturalness that is rarely attempted. Our grapes are grown in select vineyards (usually identified on the label), where they are left to ripen to peak maturity, often at some loss of quantity. We let the wine settle and age in small barrels, with only rare cellar treatment other than racking. Varieties are not blended unless indicated on the label. Near Black Mountain on Monte Bello Ridge, our main vineyard is 10 miles south of Palo Alto, 15 miles inland from the ocean, and over 2000 feet in elevation.